one did. It’s my mission to fix our broken mental health system one person at a time.”
“That’s so powerful, Jett. And your organization works with at-risk youth as well?”
“Oh, of course. The pressures on our young students are tremendous and growing with each year. When I was in school, I can think of several student athletes who could have really benefited from our services. The way our system works now, it’s often the squeakiest wheel who gets the help. Many people fall through the cracks of the regular mental health system. I mean when was the last time the doctor at your well visit asked you how were coping emotionally?”
“Mmm, what a great point, and so fitting for the Thanksgiving Holiday. In honor and in the spirit of all that Belief Village does, Jett, the network would like to award you with this year’s Spirit Award. In addition, we are donating twenty-five thousand dollars to your organization, which the NFL has promised to match. So a total of fifty-thousand dollars to continue the outstanding work you are doing.”
“Thank you so much. This will help many people.”
I am floored.
There are actual tears in the corner of my eyes.
I’m so ridiculously impressed and proud of what Jason is doing that I don’t know what to do with myself right now. Why didn’t I find any of this information during my snooping sessions? This interview filled in so many missing gaps about who he is that the gossipy online articles didn’t.
He blames his mother’s suicide on his father.
He probably was worried about me slipping into some sort of depression after Troy, which is why he spent so much time making me laugh.
He is not just a ballplayer who makes obscene amounts of money throwing a ball.
He is so much more than that.
I wish he could have shared all of this with me, but of course that would have blown his entire cover. He would have had to come up with a series of new lies to cover up the other lies, and deep down I know that’s not who he is.
He’s not a liar.
For the first time since this whole debacle occurred, I’m believing that staying under the radar may have initially been for his benefit but was good for mine as well.
Would I have even talked to him if I had known he was this larger-than-life sports celebrity? I don’t think so. And I think he knew it too.
I look up toward the ceiling and crack a smile at God.
This was pretty obvious, even for you.
I asked for a sign and I got it.
I guess I better do something about it.
Thirty-Four
JETT
It’s the Thanksgiving Day game and we’re in Texas playing another one of our division rivals, Dallas. Although I’m several hours away from “home” I’m glad to be back in my home state where the air smells sweeter and familiar. There’s always a bit of truth to the slogans that advertisers come up with. Everything is bigger and better in Texas.
I’m starting to understand what Coach T meant by not enjoying this stage of my recovery. My shoulder feels so much better than it has in weeks that I feel like with a little physical therapy I could definitely handle a few snaps. Of course, that’s not how football works. You go with your quarterback for the whole game until you can’t and right now that man is Rivera.
He hasn’t been perfect this season, but he’s been good enough to get us to this point with a good record. We have a fighting chance of getting a playoff spot, and winning this game would go a long way in getting us there.
There’s a ferocity in the air as we jog into the bright lights of the 1.2 billion dollar stadium. I grab a headset so I’m able to communicate with the coaching staff and continue to familiarize myself with the game plays for the day. It’s my job to watch the game and help Rivera make any adjustments if he needs to.
There are a few mild cheers as the offense gets started on our first play of the day. It’s nice to see a few New Yorkers in the stands cheering us on. Our offense doesn’t make it down to the red zone, but that’s okay, they probably just need a little time to warm up and get their juices flowing.
By the third play, Rivera spots an opening and throws the ball to Gibson. It wasn’t one of the planned offensive plays